Kogi BBQ Taco Truck

So, this is another one of our food videos, but our blog post isn’t really gonna be that related to food as much as two interesting and important thoughts and stories we had around the food. Starting with:

Alice

So, you might have seen from our California Food and Party video last week that we spent some time with Alice Shin, who’s one of the founders of the KogiBBQ empire. She tweeted at us when we said we were going to LA and suggested we eat their food. We agreed. We spoke with her some more afterwards and she invited us to one of their other places, Chego, where she fed us to the point of exploding, and sat and talked with us for a while.

Guise: let’s just say this – she’s exceptionally cool, and makes me like the Kogi BBQ empire so much more. It’s not just food there: it’s good people. We oftentimes get coldly contacted by different companies who are like “Hey! Come to our place and make a video for us so your audience will buy our stuff!” and we constantly turn them down. Companies often try to just use us for promotion. We thought at first that Kogi BBQ maybe wanted to do the same thing. We had our guards up after all of our previous experiences. But, hell, Alice was so freaking kind and helpful. She didn’t ask for any videos. She just offered us great food. No requests, no deal offering. Just good company and good food.

And the food wasn’t even the biggest part of the night. We spent a lot of time talking about opening restaurants. We’re about to open our coffee shop, and it’s something that we’re pouring a lot of our energy into, and Alice listened to what we were saying, shared her story with her restaurants, and inspired the hell out of us. Though we can’t do all of the awesome stuff they do in LA, because LA is a very different culture than Korea, we still were very amazed at what they do there in the Kogi BBQ franchise, and we’re gonna try to incorporate as much of what she said as we can. They’re not just a business: they’re extremely passionate people that love what they do, and that’s something that resonates with us a lot. If Alice didn’t live on the other side of the world we’d be her best friend. Or we’d probably be the people that text her all the time to hang out because we want to be her best friend. Either way.

So, even though this is a FAPFAP and we usually just drool over the deliciousness of the food, this video’s a bit more special to us, because this isn’t just food, but a message. KogiBBQ have great food, and even better people, and that’s something I’ll support wholeheartedly.

Story Time!

We had a very special moment with some police officers. We saw a few of them waiting in line behind us. Now, I’m not sure exactly where this came from, but we both feel uncomfortable with American police. It’s silly. I know it’s silly. But it always seems like every month there’s some new video about abusive police officers in America. Hell: our first afternoon in downtown LA and we were at a bar where a fight broke out. The police were called, and they peppersprayed one of the guys, and we heard people saying how it was unnecessary.

Anyhow, we were just waiting in line, doing our best not to break any laws, and we pulled out our camera to shoot some footage for the FAPFAP. The police officers soon into our filming started talking to us. The first few words were a blur. Is this it, I thought to myself: is this how I’m going to end up in jail? I quickly snapped out of it. They said that one of the officers wanted to be on camera. But that’s against the law, I thought! Recording police officers will get you life in prison or something else the internet told me. We asked them if they were sure if they wanted to be on camera, if there’s not something wrong with filming police officers. It’s free speech, they said, so we…pointed the camera at them, and started recording.

And…hell: these guys were so nice! Quickly my fears of a life behind bars faded away. They talked about the food, how often they’ve been there. We said it was our first time, and how we’re from Korea and we’re trying to compare Korean food here, and then they started talking about the Jeju Sex Theme Park (which we’ll totally WANK at for one of our videos on of these days!) and then we started talking about sex ed in Korea, and about the lack of porn, and it was great! A good, wholesome chat with a few police officers, and we didn’t get arrested!

Afterwards we went to Ralph’s, which is a grocery store, and bought some ice cream bars. We just wanted one each, two total, but the smallest box offered eight, so we bought it, because we had already lost all self-respect with how much food we were going to eat here in America. Well, after walking out of the supermarket, we saw the police officers again. We offered them our extra ice cream bars, and they accepted them. Is that bribing a police officer? I don’t know. They just gave me a get out of jail free card and that was the last of it.

Moral of the story: Kogi BBQ not only served me delicious food, but it helped me, in part, get over my fear of the American police.

Fin

So that’s it for our two long stories for this week’s FAPFAP. We’ve got some extra scenes and bloopers that didn’t make the final cut, just in case you wanted a bit more. Check em out!

And don’t forget to click on this pretty button below right here so you don’t miss out on any more FAPFAPs. Booya!

Obviously edited by Leigh! :D
The kimchi and cheese combination reminds me of food I had in Japan, that the restaurant cleverly called kimcheese. I started making it at home using udon, kimchi and squared cheese …(the one in burgers? Is it cheddar?). You can also add chicken. That’s fusion right here!

So I really want to experience this taste, and I found many recipes for kimchi cheese quesadilla (basically tortilla + kimchi + cheese, fry fry haha), but can’t find anything on the sauce which looks like what takes it to the next level. What does the sauce taste like guys?

Good question, and hard to explain. I was too amazed at the fact that they used an old kimchi. Fresh kimchi isn’t going to cut it for this, I don’t think. The older kimchi has a more flattened taste than regular kimchi, and it adopted the cheese perfectly, while a freh kimchi with the cheese wouldn’t really compliment each other, IMO.

Fully agree, the pungency of both would pair up better. Also that kimchiey taste of fresh kimchi probably wouldn’t hold up when cooked/heated up, I would imagine it tasting more like cooked cabbage instead haha. Funnily, usually fresh kimchi isn’t sold where I live, only old kimchi in stock so that works in my favour!

Part of me can’t believe Korean-Mexican fusion is a thing, the other part can’t believe I’ve not run into it yet. Everything looked amazing! Google doesn’t seem to think I can find anything like it in Montreal unfortunately… I’ll just have to whip something up myself (<_<'')

Also: I totally relate to the fuzz anxiety. I have to keep reminding myself that police everywhere are just other people, so you get the good and the bad. Honestly I never considered myself shady looking until I moved here…

I am soooo glad I got up and made a sandwich before watching this video, otherwise the delicious looking food would have made me cry :( I really wish there was such a thing as Korean-Mexican fusion in Sydney…hmmm maybe there is *off to ask Google*

Korean fusion is becoming REALLY popular in the US. There is a cool Korean taco place in Asbury Park NJ called Mogo and I love it. And there is a local Korean restaurant that opened up a food truck in Philly selling Koagies- but um.. they aren’t tacos. In Philly subs are called Hoagie… which is stupid. So they sell bulgulgi and spiced fish subs that are topped with kimchi. Kimchi is making their way on everything “american” including Korean Buffalo Wings, hot dogs, burgers, burritos, sandwiches, etc.

And as someone who works in the food industry, you either are a soulless bastard who is cheap and just trying to make money, or someone really passionate. And you have to be, there really isn’t anything to “gain” from working in the food industry. The profit margins are okay, but there isn’t much respect unless you are working at a 4 star restaurant. It is kind-of viewed as a temporary job, or work for immigrants. When I tell people I work for a health food restaurant, they tend to ask if I am in school, or what do I plan on doing etc. If I mention my other job, at a frame shop I get a totally different reaction. Even though both pay pretty much the exact same, people assume that the restaurant job is basically degrading. Sure there is a difference owning a restaurant and working at one, but people still place in a certain “class” or assume you aren’t very smart.

As someone about to open a coffee shop, I find what you said about the food industry really interesting, especially since we’re pushing to try to get healthier items on the menu. Thank you for the insight :)

um, okay,WHEN can we hang out? I mean, seriously, can you help me find this Koagie truck?? If you haven’t already, please, please, PLEASE, join the US Nasties Facebook page, and join our Purple (Northeast) region?! I’m just outside of Philly, I am down to hang out, and I never knew I needed koagies in my life.

Wait, is cheese and kimchi not a thing in Korea? We do that here in Japan (kimchi cheese (mochi) nabe is the one true nabe, IMO; kimchi cheese okonomiyaki’s not bad either) and they don’t even make decent kimchi in Japan, so I thought the motherland must have discovered it already. Seriously, you don’t? Why not?

Guys, the beep for the scene cuts in the bloopers is not only annoying it’s super freaking loud. Some people wear headphones to watch your videos at work….I mean so as not to disturb others, and you could like blow out an eardrum with that beep. I’m on my laptop with no earphones and it’s making my ears hurt. Honestly, it makes me not want to watch the bloopers anymore, which makes me sad because I love watching the bloopers but not if it’s going to hurt my ears.

The color bars are cool, but that high pitched beep…just no. I’m pretty sure there’s a reason that most broadcasting stations don’t use that anymore and it’s probably because it’s bad for the audience’s ears. Please get rid of it and replace it with something else. White noise static will have the same effect without the ear hurt.

Wow! I would never have conceived of Korean and Mexican fusion food but all those dishes sounded gotdammed amazingly delicious! I am glad to know that you still like kimchi, I started to wonder a bit after the “Eat Your Kimchi Like a Man” video bloopers ;).

I don’t know if it was necessary but that light donut really made the food more visible and possibly even tastier. Cops are nice everywhere – they are people too – as long as you’re not breaking the law ;)

I want to go to the gogi truck so bad. Friend of mine told me about it the other day. I gotta find it.
As far as american police brutality…people of color are the only ones that have to worry about it most of the time if not all of the time. Rarely does brutality happen to caucasians(it does happen, but on the scale that it happens to minorities….not even close). That’s not to say a black person or latino person can’t just walk up and have a conversation with police like you guys did. But people of color/minorities would understandably have alooooooot of caution and/or reservation about talking to police. I’ve never committed a crime in my life but I have seen too many times where people get thrown to the ground and arrested simply for the color of their skin. So I err on the side of caution. ESPECIALLY here in LA where race division and race relations are full of contention. Remember the LA riots of 1992? probably not, but they were national news where LAPD brutalized a man named Rodney King…and there have been other incidences since then. So yeah…I hope that clarifies just a bit why you’ve heard so much about the brutality of police here. It’s because it’s a huge reality and problem, but its a problem that doesn’t really touch white people much.

Bit of a misnomer, as ‘brutality’ is mostly overblown and perceived differently. Unfortunately there aren’t many surefire methods for taking down perpetrators in the event of criminal activity short of using things like pepper spray or tasers, so force is applied. They don’t go around slamming people to the ground at all, even if they are a suspect, as those methods come into play when someone decides to run or assault the police.

The case of Rodney King, if I recall, had more to do with the Rampart division of the LAPD. This was not the case of police as a whole, but a select few in one precinct. In the end it was an unfortunate case of yet another media frenzy. You would see the same ‘brutality’ when it came to those riots, or other similar outbreaks when other major events occur (like the Lakers winning the championship several years ago). Plenty of unruly individuals in Los Angeles, due to population density and the ‘unincorporated’ sections of cities.

Ugh, I have to learn to stop watching FAFAP’s on an empty stomach!! Everything looked so delicious. Wanna know what I love about you two? That you are just so adventurous with everything! There are so many people who are hesitant to try anything new, but you guys just dive right in there! I love it!

Food trucks are definitely an LA phenomenon. I’ve lived in Chicago, Philly, and now I’m in AZ and I’ve never really seen any Food Truck’s like they have in LA which makes me really jealous. Although, I have to say, out of everywhere I think that Chicago actually has the best food. IDK why but for some reason everything just tastes better there. It’s been a few years since I’ve lived there so I actually wouldn’t be surprised if Food Trucks got big in the city since food is so big there.

Also, I must say, I’m excited for this WANK you mentioned in the post! Jeju Sex Theme Park!? I’ve never heard of it, but I will most definitely be looking into it now.

Part of the reason why LA has such a great food truck culture is because of how it is set up. Philly is having a growing food truck culture (they even have a korean sub truck) but most trucks can only get permits in University City since the roads are so narrow. Other parts of the city have too little foot traffic otherwise.

I’d say it’s LA’s unfortunate car culture clashing with our culture of The Complete Lack of Parking. Well, maybe property value as well preventing people from building restaurants, but there is a LOT more foot traffic in LA because you are rarely able to park anywhere near where you intend to go.

Thank you for the tip! I do like ketchup on mac and cheese if I have to eat it cold and I expect that salsa on it would be amazing (it’s sort of like Adult Ketchup!) because I also like ketchup on my scrambled eggs if I have to eat them cold but they are even greater warm with cheese and salsa as well! I guess that I should have made the connection sooner but you beat me to it! LOL!

Once upon a time, I wasn’t too fond of kimchi. It wasn’t really the taste…but the smell that got to me. Buut, I looooove cheese! When Kogi started roaming the streets a few years ago, I didn’t realized they were servin up Korean/Mexican fusion. My friend tricked me into having some of her quesadilla. She knew damn well I wouldn’t turn down one of my favoritest foods in the entire universe! My first bite was… magical. What was this reddish-slightly spicy-tangy-crunchy goodness-covered in goopy cheese-lovingly wrapped in a tortilla?? What? Kimchi??? I had no idea… And thus started my love affair with Korean food……
Kogi is one of the original “gourmet” food trucks that sparked a big food culture shift in SoCal. I love how people can eat pretty damn good food without having to spend a shit load of money at a hoity toity, frou frou restaurant. Yup…Roy Choi is definitely a visionary and kimchi master ninja LOL! Did you guys get to try any other trucks?

Anywho, as a SoCal native, I’m happy that you guys had a great experience in LA. I also appreciate you sharing your positive experiences on your channel. Sometimes I hear about some negative stereotypes about LA… so hearing you guys say nothing buy nice things means much to me. So thanks!

I’ve yet to try the Kogi BBQ truck. It was even at the Sailor Moon tribute art show last weekend in Anaheim! I fear my lack of spice tolerance is forever holding me back. T^T One day I will try. ONE DAY.

Mac ‘n Cheese and Ketchup is so freakin’ good! My family make “Tuna Mac” sometimes which is Mac, Canned Tuna, and Sweet Peas, and I add a little ketchup and even though it may sound super weird it’s DELICIOUS!
Also I’m jealous ’cause I’ve wanted to go eat at Kogi for a long time but never got to :/ Look so tasty~~ *drool*

I’m a huge fan of the whole Kogi/Roy Choi family. I have never met Alice and I see Roy often at the Line Hotel, but they are, to me, THE quintessential Los Angeles food & family experience. They are engaging. They are grounded. And their staff and vision is what makes it ALL work. There’s a love for Los Angeles that you just associate with them.

Oh no…This looks sooo good, it’s sooo unfair!!! Ok, well I am going to try and make the kimchi quesadillas for lunch tomorrow. I’ve got cheese, old kimchi and tortilla shells so maybe I can make it work. :)

NOOOOOO!!! This makes me so saddddd T.T I live right down the street from that Ralphs..I could’ve met you guise and enjoyed the deliciousness of the Kogi truckk. Ugh. It was not meant to be..it really wasn’t cuz I was out of town on a convention in Vegas >.< UGH! I'm so sad :(

You can tell it’s good food when you get almost as much food stuff on your hands as in your mouth but the deliciousness outweighs the messiness and you suck on dem fingers to get every last kogi morsel mmmm

You guys should read Roy Choi’s book L.A. Son. It’s a memoir/cookbook, but the memoir part is really very good. I feel like if there is a lesson to take from it, it’s that it’s possible to screw up an INFINITE number of times, and still turn out okay. It also really ties in with your TL:DR from yesterday because his story would be, I think, in a strictly Korean context, very shocking. However it’s the kind of survivor story Americans LOVE. Basically, I think his story is unique in that it is both what I think Korean parents deeply fear AND hope for their Korean-American kids. They fear that journey, but hope for that success. However he’s very clear that it was the journey that brought him the eventual success and I think that’s such an important message (though lets be clear, I would not recommend that particular struggle to anyone. He tells a story about a break up with a girl that was…an overreaction to say the least.)

Because you guys are familiar with so many different types of food, I wonder if you would do your own fusion recipe? Maybe something with some Korean flavor, but that also incorporates outside culture staples like Kimchi Poutine or Hoddeok Waffles?

Macaroni and cheese with ketchup o_O? That is not a combo I’ve had, nor ever heard of.

Mexican – Korean fusion, sounds delicious! The next time I’m out in LA I’m going to have to keep KogiBBQ trucks in mind. The tacos sound delicious, and I’d like to give that quesadilla a try. Not sure about that first one, but still I’d try it out.

You should try the mac and cheese with ketchup. I’ve seen people in my area eat it (in the US) and I was a little unsure about it but then I somehow accidentally tried it and it was pretty good. Not something that I would have all the time but good for every once in a while.

Hmmm I should consider trying like a small sample on the side next time I have mac and cheese, which I’m realizing I don’t have often enough. I’m so hesitant about putting ketchup on the none “usual” foods. Took me ages to try it on eggs. Which is good but I’ll still take chile of any kind on my eggs before ketchup.

Macoronie pie you say. I’m rather curious about that now. Not sure exactly what else your macoronie has with it but now I’m craving a macaroni pizza. It’s literally just the pizza crust with mac and cheese backed onto of it, no red sauce.

Basically it is a baked Mac and cheese using a roux as a base for the cheese sauce. We also sometimes add shredded carrots and other things to it and bake it till it has a nice crusty cheesy top. We have a traditional national dish ( cou cou and flying fish) but most people here know that our real national dish is macaroni pie. Actually in the states the best Mac and cheeses I found remind me of macaroni pie( they probably use a roux as a base as well and are the baked kind). Also we produce a macaroni pasta here that is super long and tubular and I have never seen in the states. It’s kinda like a super long and straight version of an elbow macaroni.

I WANT to go here!!! I wanted to comment when you alluded to it in your earlier video; I am glad you mentioned your positive experience with law enforcement in America! Being a goody two-shoes myself, I am somewhat petrified of police officers, only because they could look at me cross-eyed and I’d cry. But, contrary to YouTube, yours is the average experience with police here. Police officers are simply humans whose job it is to uphold the law; if you are just behaving yourself, chances are, there will be no interaction at all, let alone an altercation. It saddens me that there has been an increasing trend to try to instigate problems with officers, and post it online. People are so eager to have a legitimate claim to oppression that they create a false one. Sadly, there are still isolated incidents of horrible abuse of power, here and everywhere. but, for the most part, it’s fabricated for hype..

Its a FAPFAP! Yay! Wait…crap, crap, crap! Its a FAPFAP! What food do I have in the house right now? I need something wonderfully tasty or else I will be miserable the whole night after watching all this deliciousness. *looks in cupboards frantically* Only dry cereal. *looks in fridge* Out of milk, nooooo!!!!! *looks in freezer* Score!!! Ice Cream! Commence the yummy, sexy FAPFAP *NOMS*

TT TT i hear ya. I just had breakfast and full to the point where i can’t take another bite but just seeing Simon and Martina downing on those crunchy deliciousness literally made my mouth drool. (._.) And I am salivating as i’m typing… oh woe is me…. >~<